Silkies - They’re simply SPECTACULAR!

[Fluffy Lambs]

Anyone else have silkies with unique toes? My partridge's 4th and 5th toes on their right foot are joined and my black one has yellow tips on their middle toes. These guys are just hatchery quality so I'm not surprised. Haha

I think some of mine might be like that

 

[LadiesAndJane]

I think some of mine might be like that

I had some chicks like that this year. Both parents had the normal 5 toes.

 

[mamablair]

Ok I may have a favorite chick. Lol. This one just loves taking pictures with me. Haha. This is the same chick that posed for pictures about a week and a half ago. Haha

 

[PippinTheChicken]

Hi peeps! I'm 98% sure that Ginger, my 4mo silkie, is male. But shouldn't he be crowing by now? My other silkies crowed at 16wks.
He's a bit weird in a way. He does a funky walk and he can't see well (even though his crest isn't in his eyes) and he's not very clever.
I bought him as a 6wk old and he's been funky from when I got him. Is his weirdness getting in the way of his crowing?
He's a bit small so I thought he was a bantam since he also has a beard. Most UK silkies are non-bearded

 

[LadiesAndJane]

Hi peeps! I'm 98% sure that Ginger, my 4mo silkie, is male. But shouldn't he be crowing by now? My other silkies crowed at 16wks.
He's a bit weird in a way. He does a funky walk and he can't see well (even though his crest isn't in his eyes) and he's not very clever.
I bought him as a 6wk old and he's been funky from when I got him. Is his weirdness getting in the way of his crowing?
He's a bit small so I thought he was a bantam since he also has a beard. Most UK silkies are non-bearded

Post a good clear photo, full body side view and close up of comb.
if you have other boys, could be why he is not crowing. Could also be underdeveloped or delayed due to his physical issues?

 

[PippinTheChicken]

Post a good clear photo, full body side view and close up of comb.
if you have other boys, could be why he is not crowing. Could also be underdeveloped or delayed due to his physical issues?

I just rehomed my roosters yesterday. There is one other boy but he is younger than Ginger abd not crowing yet.
I'll take some pics when I get home

 

[PippinTheChicken]

 

[AngBantamLuv]

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You guys all have the prettiest silkies!!

 

[PippinTheChicken]

Later I'll show you who I have left. I'm back down to 7

 

[Ponypoor]

First and foremost - ABSOLUTELY NO HATING ON SILKIES ALLOWED!!! If you aren’t here to support our fuzzy friends, don’t respond.

Silkies get a bad rap for the following:
"Looks like a dust mop"
"Too hard to maintain"
"Poor immune system"
"Dumber than rocks"
"0 predator awareness"
And oh, so much more.

Well my friends - I thought so too, until I actually got silkies for myself. These are some of the most wonderful birds out there.

I’ve found them to be highly heat tolerant, wonderful mothers, having the strongest immune systems in my Bantam flock, GREAT LAYERS (that’s right folks), adorable as all get out, and more.

I currently have 9 silkies - and my rooster has been nothing but a gentleman to his ladies. They free range daily and I’ve not had a silkie get killed by a predator yet. My hens average 5 eggs a week - not too bad for a silkie, eh?


Most of the time, these silkie haters haven’t even owned the breed, but rather pretend they know everything.


So... let the fun begin! Support our silkies!

Pictures always welcome.

Be mindful, and respect others...

Off-topic discussions are allowed, though try to maintain the subject of silkies.

-Kayla-

I am new to chickens and chose Silkies because they were different and interesting looking.

My first impression is that they are very quiet and rather tame. This has been further proven by the fact that my Niece dumped 7 'barnyard mix' week old chick on me about 10 weeks ago. Those chicks were such a surprise to me! They were WILD! into everything, fighting squabbling, flying everywhere....

The poor Silkies would just look at them and stay out of their way haha!

A negative for the Silkies is that they don't have common sense - when it rains they just stand out there and get soaked to the skin! The Wild Chicks come on into the barn and roost while it rains. I have to rescue and dry off the silly Silkies.

Silkies I have found don't have any predator awareness - but that could be the fact they can't see a darn thing through all those feather poofs! I cut back the feathers on my gals head regularly so they can see - otherwise they run into things!

As for being dumb I wouldn't say dumb - they are smart enough to get into my office here in the Barn and steal my Croissant during my morning Teams Meeting hahaha. My Frizzle silkie will hop up onto my desk and steal anything she can get her beak into. She will even hop up onto my lap and beg for food.

As for immune system and hardiness I can't speak to that as I have only had mine since Spring and they have yet to 'survive' a Canadian winter ! No worries they have an insulated Hen House here in the Barn so they won't be suffering from the bitter cold....

They are a great conversation piece, people ask about them more than the Wild Things who are just plain looking chickens, wanting to know about their unique feathers.

I get an egg a day from all three of my gals (other than the odd day they skip) and I had not issues with them not laying in the nest boxes. They lay cute little wee eggs which fit nicely onto your toast